OK so, I had this wonderful proposal - very informal - which I mentioned to my boss - I said our office needed a day care.
I know a lot of companies in the States have this already but over here in the Philippines, only a few companies have started this.
Actually, after my maternity leave last year, I proposed the installation of a breastfeeding room. I sort of got the approval of my boss but there was never really a follow through of this project - which I will seriously be working on this year.
In the office, we have a Family Welfare Committee which aims to ensure healthy living for employees, promote health awareness, etc. So one major project the committee thought of was to have a day care for the children of our employees.
So, when I told my boss about this, she had many many many questions like- up to what extent will the company be liable and accountable, where will be get caregivers for the children, up to what age will the children be, how long will they stay in the day care, who will pay. So many questions. And I tried to answer them with answers that were just simply coming from the top of my head - not well though about YET. And when my boss and I were talking, I was under the impression that this would be one proposal that would be quite difficult to get an approval.
Thankfully, when the rest of the committee met, they mentioned this day care thing to my boss and started justifying its need and importance.
So, how does this work? Day cares in the workplace I mean. My one very important concern is, and I have to agree with my boss - up to what extent will the company be liable and accountable if something happens to the child?
We have a lot of working mothers in our workforce, many of them come to a point where they opt to resign because nobody can take care of their kids. And as I have said many times before, working from the home here in our country is almost close to impossible unless you go into business.
7 comments:
While it is a growing trend in the US to have office daycare, I don't know much about them. I would imagine an attorney needs to be asked how best to protect the company while providing this service. Waivers of some sort will certainly exist.
The company I worked for previously had contracted with a well-known daycare to provide discounted services. They weren't on-site but they were in the building next to us. Perhaps that is an option to look into? An existing daycare that is bonded, insured to move into your building? Then again, I have no idea how big your office is.
This certainly is a great idea and I hope you can work it out. My workplace has many wonderful benefits but "office daycare" isn't one of them.
Good luck!
The truth is, no matter how many pages of disclaimer anyone signs to leave a child in day care, if they're hurt on site, the company's liable. On the other hand, it's about the only worse thing I can think of.
They can put in a remote camera where any parents with children in the center can view. That would probably lower the company's liability. Maybe.
I am no lawyer, so I have no idea just how these things work really.
first time visiting, love your blog.
I don't know much about office daycares since I'm a stay at home mom but if I were working I'd love to be able to know that my kids were close to me and that I could take lunch with them or something.
I hope you can work this out in your office! I imagine it would be so convenient to have your children right on site with you. It would cut down on driving to/from daycare, and you would also be able to pop in and check on them often.
Jane, P&B Girls
a daycare in the office would help us moms very much. it will definitely ease our anxieties on leaving our kids somewhere.
you're doing a great job! keep on!
Unfortunately, in-office daycares aren't all that common in the states either. Yes, some of the uber-large companies have them - but most do not. The laws - along with the liability - often make it cost-prohibitive. Quite a few companies, however, do opt to contract with a daycare provided located close to the office - thereby eliminating the liability factor.
We recently enacted a law here in California that requires employers to offer a private room for breastfeeding. And it's about time!!
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